Inquiring Minds

In January, eighth graders developed their own innovative remotely operated vehicle (ROV) concepts and built prototypes using recycled materials. Their designs were displayed in Haskell Library. The range of challenges the students want to address gives an interesting insight into what matters to the Class of 2024:

• Weapons to reduce the loss of life in wars
• Vehicles to remove plastics from the ocean
• Routers to make mining safer for workers
• Devices to protect people from predators
• Machines to reduce the opportunity to poach wild animals
• Devices to enhance and monitor blood flow
• Exo-skeltons to support and move a paralyzed person
• Machines to save someone buried in an avalanche
• Devices that objectively grades school work
• Devices that support the mental health of prisoners and married couples
• A single machine that can harvest any crop

Also in January, our third graders examined how they could be engaged to make change in our world. They studied people who worked to improve the civil rights for people in our country and around the world. They examined people and movements that have improved the quality of the environment and have brought peace to parts of the world. The third graders, along with Lower School Music Teacher Miss Marilyn and their classroom teachers, wrote a musical filled with quotes and songs that inspire respect, responsibility and the importance of knowing how to make the world a better place for all people. They learned what it means to be Upstanders and Positive Activists.

A group of Upper School students have met with the administration to organize a school meeting to discuss the topic of consent. Like young people around the world, our students are at times confronted or put in situations where a peer or more powerful person attempts to engage or force a student into unwanted behavior. Whether the topic is about sexual activity, use of substances or other topics that challenge the values and limits a person has for themselves, it is important for people to know that one must consent to the activity when they are in the position to make the decision without risk of harm. The students are planning an assembly in March. We are proud that our students are bringing these topics forward.

I am impressed with our third grade, eighth grade and Upper School student leaders. I am equally impressed with the efforts our teachers invested to ensure that children are exploring topics at appropriate developmental levels. The teachers are mindful that we teach - we do not preach - at Shorecrest. This is especially important today when people have a heightened concern about the sharp social and political divides experienced in our country. 

Respect, Responsibility, Integrity, Knowledge and Compassion are our Core Values at Shorecrest. While watching the third grade production and reading the eighth grade cases for their ROVs I was struck by how often the core values were mentioned. Our Upper School student leaders realize that all five core values are essential for one to lead a good life. Clearly, our teachers are taking opportunities to help students embrace our core values and apply them to their lives and the lives they hope to live.